Behind the scenes of the Olympic opening ceremony

Performers during the opening ceremony of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Source: Grigory Sysoev / RIA Novosti

RIR asked the organizers of the Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremony and the spectators at the Fisht Stadium to share their impressions.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games
took place at 20:14 on February 7 in the Fisht Olympic Stadium. It was
witnessed by more than 3 billion viewers worldwide. Details of the show,
entitled “Dreams of Russia" were kept a secret until the very last moments,
even though Olympic volunteers had seen dress rehearsals throughout the past
week. The spectacle involved 12,000 people of 17 nationalities.

Andrew Nasonovsky , Ceremonies Executive Producer:

“We prepared the ceremony
for two years. This was very little time for such a large-scale event .The
ceremony was unprecedented from a technical point of view. It involved a 2.5
km-long unique system of moving scenery. This 40,000-seat stadium became a huge
theater, like nothing in the world.”

James Lee, Ceremonies Technical Producer:

“Despite the numerous
challenges faced, the technical team has achieved the impossible in bringing
the ceremony’s vision to life. With the largest ceremonial aerial delivery
system and most innovative ceremonial show deck system, the Sochi 2014
Ceremonies are technically unprecedented.”

The Fisht Stadium, named for one of the most famous peaks of
the Caucasus mountain range, is impressive not only because of its size, but
also because of its unique design. At night, lit with a blue backlight, the
building resembles a mountain.

The 40,000 spectators who attended the Opening Ceremonies
here witnessed a multimedia show intended to tell the world about Russia – its
culture, history, traditions and inhabitants.

Andrew Boltenko, director, writer:

“We wanted to tell the story
of our great country as it has not been done by anyone. We wanted to make 3
billion viewers see the greatness and diversity of Russia through the eyes of a
child - the main heroine of Ceremony, a little girl named Lyuba (Love). The
girl became a kind of metaphor for the soul of Russia.”

In her travels, the little heroine journeys though many
regions of Russia, witnesses major events in the history of Russia and meets
with legendary personalities.

Some of her experiences include a troika of huge sparkling
horses, an Orthodox Church, the first warships of Peter the Great, the founding
of St. Petersburg and the legendary Russian ballet.

She witnesses the Soviet era through the appearance of the
famous statue of the Worker and Collective Farm woman. Trains and huge metal
structures reminded spectators of the tremendous technological advances in
those years.

The Soviet automobile industry, the “stilyagi” dandies of the
50s, the Khrushchev thaw, the song from the movie ‘Moscow Does Not Believe in
Tears’ - in short, for a Russian this was something to remember and something
that brought an element of nostalgia. But how clear were all these “signs of
the times” to foreign visitors?

Mark, Canada:

“The most grandiose introduction
was the huge locomotive. The whole episode - extras, light, music - I think
it's a symbol of the power of the USSR. Very impressive.”

Cecile, Switzerland:

“The domes of Orthodox
churches are known all over the world, and when the Russian song [the song
‘Kostroma’ by folk group Ivan Kupala – RIR] began, I knew instantly - we are
really here, in Russia! And then it soared into the sky – an absolute delight!”

Ivan, Poland:

“I was expecting something
grand - but I just could not have imagined such an incredible show. It’s even
difficult to say what I liked most of all ... I think the final fireworks.
Actually, my friends are planning to visit the closing ceremony of the
Olympics. I hope to see an even more amazing performance then.”

Details of the Closing Ceremony of the Games will be kept
secret until February 23.